2014 DAYTONA 500 PREVIEW:
Check back in the spring for a preview of the 2014 Daytona 500.
2013 DAYTONA 500 RESULTS:
After making history at the Daytona 500, Danica Patrick was unable to hold on to her pole position but was able to squeeze out a top ten finish. The Hendrick Motorsports team had plenty to cheer about as Jimmie Johnson took home his second Daytona 500 title with a race time of 3 hours and 8 minutes averaging 159.25 mph.
DAYTONA 500 EXPERIENCE:
Name: Daytona 500
Headquarters: Daytona Beach, Florida
Race Track: Daytona International Speedway
As the most prestigious race on the NASCAR calendar, the Daytona 500 is one of the most popular racing events in the world and is regularly called the "Super Bowl of stock car racing." The 500-mile race is considered the biggest event of the NASCAR season, and the organization has a unique place in American professional sports by scheduling its most important race at the beginning of the year. A driver's strong showing in the event can set the tone for the season, and you haven't quite arrived in NASCAR until taking the checkered flag.
As NASCAR fans get ready to cheer on their favorite drivers, they have eight weeks of high-octane fun leading up to the big race called Speedweeks. Much like the lead up to the Super Bowl, Speedweeks is a series of fan-driven events and races that are meant to build anticipation for the Daytona 500 and showcase the up-and-coming generation of NASCAR drivers.
One of the many events during Speedweeks is the DRIVE4COPD 300, a 120-lap, 300-mile event that pits many of today's top drivers in the Sprint Cup series against the top talent of the Nationwide Series. This allows fans to get a close look at the many drivers who will be participating in the Daytona 500 in the future, and maybe even get a chance to see one of them give the Sprint Cup drivers a run for their money! There are also a series of ARCA RE/MAX races, with custom-made stock cars and vehicles used in past NASCAR events. These races feature hobby racers as well as members of NASCAR's developmental teams, making it an interesting event for fans.
Before the drivers start qualifying for the Daytona 500, they will face off in the first official event of the season, the Budweiser Shootout. This will pit the top drivers of last year's Chase against one another in a 50-mile sprint around the racetrack. This is always one of Speedweeks' most popular events and gives fans a chance to see their favorite drivers before the big day.
NASCAR fans know that the events preceding the Daytona 500 are almost as thrilling as the race itself. Racing enthusiasts owe it to themselves to take a bit of extra time off to check out the many Speedweeks events that are sure to put an exclamation point on their experience.
See Also:
NASCAR tickets
Daytona 500 Preview History